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 THE LESSON OF 
 
 THE SCHOOL BOARD 
 ELECTIONS. 
 
 A PAPER 
 
 READ BY 
 
 J. a. TALBOT, ESQ., MP. 
 
 AT THE 
 
 ^nnual Meeting of il)e ^l^urcl/ of JEn gland Softool 
 Teac/?ers^ ^Association for West JXent, 
 
 AUGUST 12, 187L 
 
 i>xj]blish:ed by request. 
 
 MAIDSTONE 
 
 PRINTED AT THE JOURNAL OFFICE, MIDDLE ROW. 
 
 1871.
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 I have published this Address because I was requested to 
 do so, by those who listened to it, not because I think there 
 is likely to be found in it anything that has not been heard 
 before by those who are interested in Education. I have 
 spoken strongly on the danger of trusting our religious teach- 
 ing to the School Boards, but I would not have it supposed 
 that I am insensible to the gallant efforts which have been 
 made, and are being made, by Churchmen upon these Boards, 
 to preserve the liberty for the amount of such instruction 
 which the Act allows. Nor would I willingly omit to notice, 
 what was well observed at our Annual Meeting, how high is 
 the character of those who have been elected on the School 
 Boards, and with what public spirit these Boards have 
 generally applied themselves to their difficult duties- 
 
 Still the conviction remains strong upon my mind, and I 
 am desirous (so far as I may) to impress it upon others, that 
 unless our voluntary Schools are maintained in full efficiency 
 — both religious and secular — the Education of England will 
 never meet the best desires of the best portion of her people. 
 
 J. G. T, 
 
 Falconhurst, August , 1871-
 
 THE LESSON OF THE SCHOOL BOARD 
 
 ELECTIONS. 
 
 In meeting the members of this Association at the 
 end of another year, it seems obvious to take some 
 review of the events which have occurred since we met 
 last year, and enjoyed the generous hospitality of our 
 kind friend, Mr. Saint. On that occasion you kindly 
 received me for the first time as your President, and I 
 addressed you on your position and duties in connection 
 with a national system of education, which had just 
 been established by that celebiated statute, the Ele- 
 mentary Education Act, which will long make famous 
 the Session of 1870. 
 
 The twelve months which have elapsed since then 
 have justified the importance which I asked you 
 to attach to the new condition of things under 
 which you would have to work : and here I 
 cannot forbear to express the gratification which I feel 
 at the strenuous efforts which, in this Diocese, as in 
 others, have been made to supply the deficiencies in 
 our church school accommodation, and so to avoid, as 
 far as possible, the necessary evils of schools subject 
 to the new Boards. It is also a subject of very great 
 satisfaction that real attention has been bestowed upon 
 the need of providing for the inspection of religious 
 teaching, which the State has so long provided, and 
 has now withdrawn. Connected with this, I may 
 mention the plans which are in progress for the re- 
 ligious examination of pupil teachers, and for encourag- 
 ing in our schools a better acquaintance with the 
 treasures of our Book of Common Prayer than I fear is 
 commonly found. On each of these subjects it would 
 not be hard to dilate. 
 
 But the particular point on which I shall detain 
 you for a few minutes, and whicb may, I hope, lead
 
 to a discussion not unprofitable, is the result of 
 the election of the School Boards, with the moral 
 which it teaches us. I shall not discuss the merits 
 of School Boards, on which, I think, you know 
 my sentiments sufficiently. But I will remind you of 
 the facts which the newspapers have recorded. A 
 large number of these Boards have been elected, and I 
 observe that Mr. Forster, in moving the Education Vote 
 the other day, announced that 96 boroughs (out of 
 220) besides about 210 other parishes,* had elected 
 School Boards. This is a fact of which Mr. Forster is 
 not unnaturally rather proud, because it confirms the 
 anticipation which he had formed, that in many parts 
 of the country public opinion would support him in 
 making such a provision for education, even without 
 any pressure being brought to bear from tho central 
 authority. 
 
 Few, probably, of those who hear me will share 
 that satisfaction, but we are here to deal with 
 facts, not with opinions ; and the fact that such a large 
 number of School Boards has been established within 
 twelve months from the passing of the Education Act^ 
 is a great and important one. That the number will 
 increase, we cannot doubt, though I do not believe 
 that they will become universal, as the secular party 
 desire, and confidently predict. But I am bound to 
 say that I think we must show some reason for pre- 
 ferring our voluntary schools, beyond the rate-paying 
 reason, if we are to hope to maintain them, and that is 
 why I have taken the liberty of urging this subject 
 upon your attention to-day. 
 
 Let us look, then, to the general result of the 
 elections, and to the limits within which the Boards 
 are confined, to see whether the education they 
 will give can be such as to satisfy us, who are, by 
 conviction, as well as by profession, members of 
 Christ's Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church, as 
 i^ has long existed in this land, fi co, as we believe, 
 
 " Not. (A.) 
 
 uiuc;
 
 3 
 
 from the innovations and corruptions of Eome, and 
 free also from the spirit of ecclesiastical disorder, which, 
 unhappily, characterized the Reformation in some of 
 the other parts of Em^ope. 
 
 And first, I would make this admission, that, 
 so far as I have been able to gather, the elections 
 to the School Boards have been very fair. I mean 
 that all parties are fairly represented upon them. 
 This was, no doubt, due to the operation of what 
 is called the cumulative vote, which was happily in- 
 corporated with the Education Act of last year, and 
 which the House of Commons this year, with such re- 
 markable unanimity, j" resolved to maintain. But then, 
 let us observe, what results we have arrived at. We 
 have bodies elected, containing elements almost as dis- 
 cordant as the House of Commons itself comprehends, 
 and the very nature of the case demands that the re- 
 ligion of such bodies should be almost entirely colour- 
 less and negative. 
 
 If the majority alone had been represented, no 
 doubt we might have had in some places strong 
 Church Boards, in others strong Wesleyan Boards, 
 in others again, strong Eoman Catholic Boards= 
 And then, even with the unhappy limitation of liberty 
 (as I shall always consider it) of clause 14, J we might 
 have had definite religious teaching, even without 
 distinctive formularies. But under present cbcum- 
 stances, the thing seems to me impossible. 
 
 You have observed, no doubt, the strength of the 
 hold which the Church still has upon our populations, 
 as evinced by the ease with which Church candidates 
 have been elected on School Boards in large towns, often 
 at the head of the poll, and I daresay you have been 
 pleased, as I have, to see that the national respect for the 
 clergy, which noisy demagogues are fond of denying, 
 has shown itself in the fact that the rector or vicar of 
 the parish has not infrequently been elected chairman 
 of the Board. But you cannot have failed to be im- 
 
 t Nute (K.) t Note (0.)
 
 pressed (I had almost said to be amused, only that " our 
 nnhappy divisions '' ought not to amuse, but to grieve 
 us) at the strange medley which the constitution of 
 these Boards presents. When we have not the mem- 
 bers only, but the ministers, of ^^all denominations'' 
 sitting side by side on the same Board, assisted by 
 what are called ^'working men's candidates,'' who, I 
 am afraid, often affect an indifference to all religion, 
 which I do not believe the working classes really feel, 
 the result must be either a perpetual conflict, when the 
 subject of religion comes up, or a pretty complete ne- 
 gation. Now, no bodies, except perhaps the House of 
 Commons, like to be perpetually fighting, and so it 
 generally happens that the subjects on which they 
 cannot agree are pretty well ignored. 
 
 It may, of course, be answered, that there is much re- 
 ligious truth upon which almost all Christians agree, and 
 that the School Boards will rightly interpret the wishes of 
 the country by giving religious instruction to all children 
 whose parents do not object. It may be so, and I 
 trust most sincerely that it will be so. But I will 
 make two remarks ; 
 
 1. Thar I doubt whether any instruction can be 
 satisfactory to Church-people which, in the words of 
 the bye-laws of the London School Board, § is not 
 "to attach the children to any particular denomination ;'' 
 and 2. That the religious character of the School Board 
 schools depends very much upon the efforts which we 
 make in our voluntary schools. 
 
 On this point I should like to quote a passage from 
 an article in the last Quarterly Review (for July, 
 1871) on " The New School Boards," which I com- 
 mend to the perusal of any who may have an oppor- 
 tunity of seeing it. " The religious teaching of the 
 " new schools is encumbered with much difficulty, 
 " because of the condition of ^ undenominationalism,' " 
 (which is most barbarous, the word or the idea ?) 
 ** which is held to be implied in the Cowper-Temple 
 
 § Note (D.)
 
 clause. There is an active and intelligent party, 
 who will watch for such difhculties, eagerly en- 
 deavouring to exaggerate them where they exist, to 
 create them where they do not. At present, the majority 
 of the Boards, and of the school-managers whom they 
 appoint, will be honestly anxious to work the sys- 
 tem efficiently, and may expect to find many 
 difficulties vanish as they grapple with them. If 
 the old schools shall exist, preserving a religious 
 tone, and offering an easy refuge from actual or 
 virtual secularism, then, we believe, their attempt 
 will succeed. Even for the sake of self-preservation, 
 to say nothing of the contagion of a noble example, 
 the new schools will preserve, under all difficulties, 
 a subtsantially religious character. Let the volun- 
 tary schools decay and vanish, and we do not feel 
 so sure of this result. The example of the United 
 States is not encouraging. It is generally known 
 that the common schools have there become virtually 
 secular ; in ordinary cases, nothing is left, except 
 the reading of a passage of Scripture, and the use 
 of some very general prayer at the opening of the 
 School. But it is not so well known, that originally 
 the system was intended to ^ provide religious in- 
 struction for all children,' and that it has gradually 
 faded into what it is, because it is provided that 
 this religious instruction shall not ^favour the tenets 
 of any particular sect of Christians.' " (This is 
 ominously like the language to which we have been lately 
 accustomed.) " We trust that such might not be the 
 ^ case in England, if the new schools were left in un- 
 '• disputed possession of the field ; but we cannot feel 
 ' sure that the same causes will not operate to produce 
 ^ the same results. Doubly, then, we believe, that 
 ^ the old schools are of paramount value here. 
 ^ They can work most effectually for religious instruc- 
 ' tion themselves. Most of them are connected with 
 ' the Church, and all the prestige and influence of
 
 " the Cburcli is brought to bear upon their religious 
 " tone, while the absence of all fettei*s upon the re- 
 " ligious teaching should help it to greater definiteness 
 
 " and Tiirour. Eut besides this, their redex action on 
 
 <^ ' 
 
 " the new schools is of at least equal importance. To 
 " lose it would be. to our view, nothing shoit of a 
 " calamity to the Chiistianitv of Ensrland." I think 
 YOU will agree with me that this is an important and a 
 susreestiTe extract : and in enlai'sdns: upon one or two 
 of the topics which it suggests, I will conclude the re- 
 marks which I fear mav have detained vou too Ions:. 
 It seems to me that we are all sadly prone to forget 
 the lessons which experience should teach us. This, 
 which is abnc^t a common-place with preachers on 
 matters of personal religion, is equally tme with re- 
 gard to the conduct of nations and communities. 
 
 Thus, for example, in England we are ready to rush iato 
 a system of ** unsectarian " teachinsr. without reflectia^ 
 that the svstem has been tried bv our intellisrent friends 
 on the other side of the Atlantic, and that the restilt — to 
 religious minds — has not been successful. I trust, 
 therefore, that none of us will be deluded by the 
 smooth working of the School Boards, into the fancy 
 that they can afford to the children of our fellow- 
 countrymen that religious education, which, as Chtirch- 
 men we are bound to offer. And asaia, I would re- 
 spectftdly impress upon you that the best chance of 
 preserving anything deserving the name of religious 
 teaching in these new schools is — as the Quarterhj 
 Reviewer suggests — ^the preservation of a very high 
 standard — may I even say the establishment of a 
 higher standard ? — in our own. For their sake? — as 
 well as for ours — ^let us not '* shun to declare ' to our 
 children " all the counsel of God." I think we 
 are apt, in our poor conception of Divine tlungs, to 
 fancy that we may safely teach this, and omit that, 
 forgetting how infinitesimal after all our best know- 
 ledge is, and not recognising, what I believe to be the
 
 truth, that whatever has been revealed to us we are 
 bound, so far as our powers go, to communicate to 
 those whom we teach. 
 
 Whilst I address these words to you, I feel that 
 I am in some danger of presumption. Upon you, 
 the teachers of tliis Association, falls the burden 
 of education during many long and weaiy hours, 
 amongst many discouragements, relieved, I fear too 
 often, bv scanty sympathy. I trust that no words 
 of mine will convey the idea, which I should indeed be 
 ashamed to entertain, that I was in a position to '^ lec- 
 ture " you upon the arduous duties you have imder- 
 taken. But perhaps, in some respects, one whose 
 sphere is different from yours may be able to put be- 
 fore you reflections on your work in a manner, which 
 mav be less familiar, and therefore more impressive, 
 than your own constant experience would suggest. I 
 am well aware that I cannot estimate rightly your 
 daily difficidties, and the practical limits which con- 
 fine'all your labours. But perhaps I may be able to see 
 the wider issues which are at stake. And If my short 
 public experience teaches me anything of these matters, 
 it is this : That the future of England depends greatly 
 upon the hold which religion can obtain of the work 
 incr classes of the country. And that, amongst the 
 aojencies bv which that hold can be secured, none Avill 
 be more powerful than the multiplication and the 
 maintenance of really religious schools. I make no 
 apology- for addressing you as persons to whom such a 
 subject will commend itself : the circumstances of our 
 annual meetings must remind us all that we profess to 
 devote ourselves to the work of Education, whether as 
 clergy, school teachers, or others, in an earnestly re- 
 ligious spirit. And, therefore, I ^vill only add, that 
 if any words of mine can have weight with you, I 
 would most strongly urge upon all who hear me, that 
 not religious teaching only, but the inculcation of 
 definite religious doctrine, is now more than ever our
 
 8 
 
 paramount duty. I hope we shall not be uncharitable 
 to others : there is no need that we should be so, in 
 order to be definite ourselves. But in days like ours, 
 when forms of religion from which we conscientiously 
 differ are taught very strongly, and still more when 
 anti-religious principles are openly instilled into young 
 and ignorant minds, it should be the high privilege of 
 the members of the Church of England to hold up to 
 those who have been baptized into her fold her pure 
 and lofty standard, and to give them a " reason of the 
 hope which is in them,'' which may support them 
 through their lives. It is no elaborate system of re- 
 fined theology which she imposes upon her youthful 
 members, it is what she believes to be the necessary 
 epitome of Divine Revelation. As such, it has been 
 handed down to us, feebly indeed sometimes, but still 
 without mutilation. Let us, in these anxious times, 
 hand on the lamp of truth to those who shall succeed 
 us, and take care that no fault of ours shall dim its 
 brightness. 
 
 !N"OTE A. — The School Board Chronicle gives the following namber of School Boards 
 in Eng.and and "Wales established up to 1st August, 1P71 :— Municipal Boroughs, 96, other 
 Parishes, 172; total, 268. Besides these, several other places have applied for orders for 
 the election of Boards. 
 
 NOTE B.— Mr. Dixon (M.P. for Birmingham), on 7th March, 1871, brouaht in a Bill 
 to repeal the cumulative voting clauses of the Elementary Education Act ; the Bill bore the 
 names of Mi-. Dixon, Mr. l^ayley Potter, Mr. Jacob Bright, and Mr. Mun'z. Mr. Dixon 
 moved the second reading on the 12th July, but was opposed on both sides of the House; 
 and only supported by Mr. Vernon Harcourt. The second reading was negatived without 
 a division. 
 
 NOTE C— Clause 14, Subsection 2, of the Elementary Education Act, provides that 
 *' No religious catechism, or religious formulary which is distinctive of any particular re- 
 ligious denomination, shall be tauyht in the School," i.e., in a School " provided by a Schuol 
 Board." 
 
 NOTE D.— The following is the mth Eegulation of the London School Board, with re- 
 gaid to Schools under their management : " In all Schools provision may be made for giving 
 effect to the following R -solution of the Board, parsed on July 26th, 18.1: ' That in accord- 
 ance with the general practice of existing elementary schools, provision maj' be made for 
 offering prayer and using hymns in Schools provided by the Board at the ' lime or times' 
 when, according to Section 7 Sub-seciion 2. of the Elementary Education Act, "religious 
 observances" may lie practised. That the arrangements for such '' religious observances " 
 be left to the discretion of the leacher and managers of such Schools, with the right of appeal 
 to the Board by teacher, managers, parents, or ratepayers of the district : Provided always, 
 That in the offering of any prayers and in the use of any hymns, the provisions .f the Act 
 in Sections 7 and 1 4 be strictly ohserved, both in letter and in spirit, and that no attempt be 
 made to attach children to any particular deni mination " 
 
 Printed at the Journal Office, Maidstone.
 
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